Karate College Clubs Fall Magazine 2024 by CollegeKarate

CONTENTS TABLE OF

Scott

KARATE TOURNAMENTS

CITIESVISITEDIN JAPAN

TOKYO KYOTO OSAKA

KANAZAWA

KOBE

JUKFUNIVERSITIES REPRESENTEDIN BOSTON

NIHON UNIVERSITY

SHIBAURA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

KYUSHU UNIVERSITY

OSAKA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

WASEDA UNIVERSITY

TheTipofTheIceberg The Tip of The Iceberg

It is important in life to understand how much happens beyond the surface level in any organized event. Even in our day to day lives, the simplest activities we take part in has a whole dimension beyond the surface level for things to be operating smoothly. Consider when you go to a restaurant and order food and there is a whole logistical operation that occurs in the back from food preparation to inventory checking to staff waiting on tables. Consider when you attend a conference and listen to several talks, and imagine how much work was done from the weeks prior to organizing the list of speakers, reserving the venue, handling last minute changes to plans, etc. Whenever an operation starts to involve a group of people, the logistics becomes trickier, and many people often only see the tip of the iceberg, and never consider just what happens beyond the surface of the water, and how big the iceberg really could be. In our Karate lives, when you attend a Karate camp, you might just be doing Karate training for a few days at several training sessions. However, consider the effort it took to book the training venue, gathering everyone’s information and fees to attend the camp, inviting guest instructors, etc. We encourage all of our students to do this type of reflection as this can increase one’s gratitude in life for all of the things that happen behind the scenes or below the surface, and also can help students understand how they can identify areas where they can help out. This Fall 2024, we hosted a JUKF delegation from Japan for 1 week as they visited Boston in September, as well as organized an MHKH delegation to visit Japan in November. While the events themselves lasted somewhere between 1 and 2 weeks, the organizing of these events involved months of planning and weekly meetings to structure the visit, rally support for the various events in terms of people helping and coordinating, and reserving venues for Karate training or sightseeing. Often, students who only see the surface level can also only see the negative side of things, and why things are not organized the way that would be best for them.

When you reflect and consider what happens below the surface, and the sheer depth of effort that it takes to organize such events, you begin to not only understand why things are organized the way they are, but you begin to have more gratitude for such opportunities and life and you begin to find ways in which you can contribute and become a part of the depth of organization, rather than just being part of the participation in the event. So, reflect about how many experiences in life are captured by this metaphor of the iceberg, and consider what in your life you have never considered below the surface level.

-Vazrik&Cassiano

SeptemberJUKFVisittoBoston

September12-18,2024

In September 2024, we hosted 9 students from Japan, representing Waseda University in Tokyo, Nihon University in Tokyo, Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo, Osaka Institute of Technology in Osaka, and Kyushu University in Fukuoka. Like in 2023, the students had the opportunity to practice Karate in the universities with us, have tours of the universities in the Boston area, and sightsee in Boston. For many of these students, it was their first time visiting the US, so we had the honor of giving them an unforgettable experience, and memories that will last a lifetime.

The students were able sail on the Charles River at the MIT Sailing Pavilion, visit the Boston City Hall and become an official part of Boston history thanks to Mr. Juan Lopez, tour through Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to see the cutting edge research conducted in Cambridge, visit Plymouth and learn about one aspect of the history of the US, and of course enjoy the various restaurants we know and love in Boston. Check out more details about the

JUKF visit to Boston

JUKF Visits MA State House

Vazrik offers a gift to Mr. Juan Lopez (Member of the City of Boston Commission of 400 years celebration)

New JUKF Black Belts

JUKF Karate practice at Harvard

MIT outdoor Karate practice

SeptemberJUKFDanexamfor MHKHmembers

09/15/2024

As we usually do with our visiting JUKF guests, we conducted an official JUKF black belt exam for our MHKH Karate students. The JUKF Dan exam is an accredited black belt exam that is offered for university students in Japan, and is a special opportunity offered to our MHKH students to take part in. The students need to demonstrate proficiency in kihon, kata, and kumite (specifically jiyu kumite) in order to achieve a black belt from the JUKF. This year, we had 7 students test and successfully pass their Shodan: Emile Giovannie Zounon, Bruce Hou, Munawwar Abdulla, Angel Chan, Sasiru Pathiranage, Julia Van, and Renata Costa. For several of our students, this was their first official black belt, while for others, they have already achieved a black belt in the JKA. Many university students in Japan have a similar experience where they begin Karate in university and achieve a black belt through the JUKF, or they arrive already with a black belt and also test to achieve their JUKF black belt during their university years. We are proud of our MHKH students who trained hard to develop their skills and were able to perform under pressure, and put themselves through this unique test to take their Karate to the next level. Congratulations!

Congrats Emile, Munawwar, Angel, Julia, Sasiru, Renata, Bruce!

karate mor e t han

Our students do “More Than Karate”! Shotokan Karate is a deep passion for many of our students, but as many new beginners ask us when they join our Karate group, you can have multiple passions! Many of our students do multiple activities in addition to Karate. Throughout the magazine, we will highlight some of our members and you will have a chance to get to know more about them.

SASIRUPATHIRANAGE

BOSTONUNIVERSITY JKASHODAN

bui l d ing

bridges

Our Karate community builds bridges with Karate instructors and organizations around the world. This gives our students the opportunity to learn different approaches to Karate and create bonds with Karateka across the globe. We connect with highlevel instructors who view Karate not just as a physical activity, but also as a way of developing humble character, confidence, leadership skills in Karate ‘diplomats’ who make the world a better place in their local, regional, and global communities. Throughout the magazine, we feature a few of the instructors who represent this approach to Karate and with whom we have developed a bond.

ScottLangleySensei, HDKIfoundervisitsBoston

Our guest instructor for the semester is Scott Langley, sensei and founder of HDKI based in Dublin, Ireland . It was wonderful to have Scott Sensei teach at MIT for college students; in fact, students from 8 different colleges were present (MIT, Harvard, Boston University, Wellesley College, U Texas, Lesley University, Georgetown University, UMass), representing all 5 continents, ranging from beginners to black belts. It was a distinctive master class in martial arts. Scott Sensei has a hectic schedule, traveling around the world on weekends each year to share his expertise, and we are grateful for this rare chance to learn and enhance our karate techniques.

10/05/2024

HuskyCupUCONN2024

This November 2024, we had the opportunity to participate in the Husky Cup Karate Tournament hosted by Sensei Bob Jacobs and the UConn Karate Club. This tournament is an opportunity for beginners to experience their first tournament, as well as judges to get practice judging in a tournament. We had students from Harvard University, Wellesley College, Boston University, as well as our alum students with ranks going from white belt through black belt competing. It was a great educational opportunity and a chance to watch everyone compete and learn from each other.

KATA

Maleblackbelt:

Sasiru Pathiranage (Boston University)

Womanblackbelt:

Sofi Obradovic (Boston University)

Justina Wang (Boston University)

Malebrownbelt:

Emile Giovannie Zounon (Harvard)

Chang-Hung (Bruce) Hou (Boston University)

Womanbrownbelt:

Yilan Hu (Boston University)

Naomi Grusby (Boston University)

Riley Leighton (Boston University)

Woman'sorange&yellowbelt:

Maggie Shirk (Boston University)

AllWhitebelt:

Maggie Shirk (Boston University)

Jessie Xiangjia Chen (Boston University)

Riley Leighton (Boston University)

11/02/2024

Maleblackbelt:

Sasiru Pathiranage (Boston University)

Womanblackbelt:

Sofi Obradovic (Boston University)

Justina Wang (Boston University)

Angel Chan (Lesley University)

Malebrownbelt:

Emile Giovannie Zounon (Harvard)

Chang-Hung (Bruce) Hou (Boston University)

Eshaan Vakil (Harvard)

Womanbrownbelt:

Yilan Hu (Boston University)

Riley Leighton (Boston University)

Merle Kartscher (Harvard)

Mona Alsalman (Harvard)

Woman'sorange&yellowbelt:

Peiqi Chen (Boston University)

PEIQICHEN

BOSTONUNIVERSITY

JKA6THKYU

HDKI7THKYU

KARATE AND SAILING

MHKHStudentsCompetein16th GichinFunakoshiCupinJapan

We had the distinct opportunity of having several of our students qualify for the JKA USA National Team that would compete in the 16th Gichin Funakoshi Cup at Takasaki Arena in Japan on October 26-27, 2024. Hiro Fujii and Sasiru Pathiranage competed in the Youth 19-21 category for kata and kumite. We are proud of the hard work that these students put in to reach this level. The Gichin Funakoshi Cup is held every 3 years and is the highest international tournament for the JKA. There are male and female, kata and kumite, individual and team categories for Karate competitors. JKA members all around the world compete to reach the national team to be able to represent their country in this international competition.

NovemberMHKHVisittoJapan

November22-December2,2024

In November 2024, we had the official invitation from JUKF to visit Japan once again with the goal of creating more connections between Karate students in the universities in Japan and the universities in the Boston area. We visited 5 distinct cities this time - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa, Kobe. We had the opportunity to not only train Karate with some of our friends we have met previously from the JUKF, but also make new friends and connections in Kanazawa, a city we were able to visit for the first time this year.

In addition, we had the unique pleasure this trip to visit the official Japan Karate Federation (JKF) headquarters with Osada Sensei (JUKF President) and to see the various activities they organize in terms of classes as well as local tournaments in Tokyo.

Scan the QR Code to check out more details about our visit to Japan in our Japan November 2024 photo album

Meeting Olympic Karate Legend Ryutaro Araga

JUKF Board Dinner

Visiting Gakugei High School in Osaka

Karate at Osaka Institute of Technology

TrainingatWasedaUniversity SENSEITABATA’SLEGACY

USA College Delegation from: MIT, Harvard University, Lesley University, Wellesley College Shotokan Karate Club, Georgetown University and Boston University Shotokan Karate

Our Sensei Kazumi Tabata(1943-2020) was the Waseda Karate Captain during his college years.

Finally, we were able to visit Waseda University, the alma mater of Kazumi Tabata Sensei. We were able to see our Waseda University Karate friends who visited us in the US in September, and train Karate at Waseda University. We were able to see the famous black belt wall in the Waseda University dojo, where all of the students who had achieved black belt and were a part of the Waseda University Karate club were listed, including Tabata Sensei. This was a distinct honor to see this aspect of history being upheld by the club and to experience this moment as a team together.

#KarateDiplomacy

11/24/2024

Team Photo in Front of Tabata Sensei’s name on Waseda Black Belt Wall

VisittoJapanKarateFederation(JKF) HQinTokyo

11/28/2024

Our visit to the Japan Karate Federation (JKF) Headquarters in Tokyo was an unforgettable experience, made possible through our special partnership with the Japan University Karatedo Federation (JUKF) and the visionary leadership of Sensei Osada, its president. This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to “Karate Diplomacy,” using karate as a bridge to foster cultural exchange, unity, and mutual understanding worldwide.

The JKF, founded in 1964, is not just the governing body for karate in Japan—it’s a cornerstone of the global karate community. The Federation has worked tirelessly to preserve the art’s rich traditions while promoting its growth internationally. Their monumental role in securing karate’s inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was a historic achievement that brought the martial art to millions of new fans across the globe.

During our visit, we were fortunate to witness a kids’ karate competition on Sunday, a vivid display of the sport’s future. Watching these young athletes compete with such skill, discipline, and respect was truly inspiring. It underscored how karate, beyond being a martial art, serves as a powerful tool to shape character and build connections between generations.

Our partnership with JUKF President Sensei Osada’s unwavering support have been instrumental in making moments like these possible. Together, through Karate Diplomacy, we’re not only celebrating the art of karate but also leveraging its power to unite people across borders.

A heartfelt thank you to the Japan Karate Federation for welcoming us and inspiring us with your dedication to this incredible art form. Your work continues to resonate deeply with the global karate community, and we’re honored to be a part of it.

Jewelry designer from Osaka

MR.AKETA

We had the pleasure of seeing our friend Aketa san in Osaka during our trip to Japan. He is a jewelry designer, and in our last trip to Japan, he had gifted all of the students a uniquely designed jewelry piece of a fist, as a signal of the strength that Karate provides. This year, he kindly gifted us a new piece that he said he was inspired after our last visit in Japan. This time, the jewelry depicted gassho, the act of placing hands together as a gesture of respect, gratitude, or prayer. We are grateful for this kind gift, and grateful for the opportunity to help university Karate students around the world.

This fall 2024, we hosted official JKA kyu exams for our college and alum students. We are proud of the hard work our students put in throughout the semester in their training, and working hard to reach the next level in their Karate journey. We had 31 students in total that promoted this semester among our Harvard University, Boston University, Wellesley College Karate clubs as well as our alumni. Congratulations!